Description
Easy Crack Chicken Pasta is a creamy, cheesy, flavor-packed dinner that turns simple ingredients into the ultimate comfort food. Tender chicken, crispy bacon, ranch seasoning, cream cheese, and cheddar come together in a rich sauce that coats every bite of pasta. It is an easy recipe for a quick dinner, a cozy family meal, and one of those dinner ideas you will want to keep on repeat when you need satisfying food ideas fast.
Ingredients
12 ounces penne pasta
2 tablespoons butter
1 pound chicken breast, cut into bite-sized pieces
1/2 teaspoon black pepper
1 packet ranch seasoning mix
8 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
3 cloves garlic, minced
8 ounces cream cheese, softened
1 1/2 cups milk
1/2 cup chicken broth
2 cups shredded cheddar cheese
2 tablespoons chopped parsley
Instructions
1. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil and cook the penne pasta until al dente. Drain and set aside.
2. In a large skillet, cook the bacon until crisp. Remove, crumble, and set aside.
3. In the same skillet, melt the butter over medium-high heat. Add the chicken pieces, black pepper, and half of the ranch seasoning. Cook until the chicken is golden and fully cooked.
4. Reduce the heat to medium. Add the minced garlic and cook for 30 seconds until fragrant.
5. Stir in the cream cheese, milk, chicken broth, and remaining ranch seasoning. Mix until the cream cheese melts and the sauce becomes smooth.
6. Add the shredded cheddar cheese a little at a time, stirring until melted and creamy.
7. Add the cooked pasta and most of the crumbled bacon to the skillet. Toss until the pasta is evenly coated in the sauce.
8. Garnish with the remaining bacon and chopped parsley, then serve warm.
Notes
Soften the cream cheese before adding it so the sauce melts smoothly and evenly.
Reserve a little pasta water in case you want to loosen the sauce before serving.
Reheat leftovers with a splash of milk or broth to keep the pasta creamy.
- Prep Time: 15 minutes
- Cook Time: 20 minutes
- Category: Dinner
- Method: Stovetop
- Cuisine: American
Nutrition
- Serving Size: 1 serving
- Calories: 680
- Sugar: 4g
- Sodium: 980mg
- Fat: 34g
- Saturated Fat: 17g
- Unsaturated Fat: 13g
- Trans Fat: 0.5g
- Carbohydrates: 48g
- Fiber: 2g
- Protein: 43g
- Cholesterol: 125mg
Keywords: easy crack chicken pasta, quick dinner, easy recipe, dinner ideas, comfort food, cheesy pasta, chicken pasta recipe, food ideas